Analyst says Chinese Internet firms seeing 'healthy' consumer demandChinese Internet stocks are among the many classes of Chinese stocks traded in New York that are weak this morning, though research firm Pacific Crest wrote in a note to investors today that after traveling to China and conducting checks, the firm is more upbeat on e-commerce company 58.com (WUBA), online travel agency Qunar (QUNR) and online video company Youku Tudou (YOKU). WHAT'S NEW: After speaking with Chinese advertising and e-commerce companies, as well as with Chinese companies that are exposed to online services, Pacific Crest analyst Cheng Cheng believes that consumer demand for Internet products and services is "stable and healthy." The decline in the stocks of Chinese Internet companies has created buying opportunities, Cheng believes. He identified 58.com and Qunar as his favorite picks in the sector heading into second quarter results. Both stocks have declined about 20% over the last 1-2 months, but the core businesses of both companies are accelerating, the analyst stated. Specifically, most of 58.com's end markets "are showing strong or at least healthy underlying demand," while Qunar is poised to benefit from an acceleration of demand for its hotel rooms, the analyst believes. Meanwhile, Youku is benefiting from strong demand from advertisers, wrote Cheng, who kept Overweight ratings on 58.com and Qunar and maintained a Sector Weight rating on Youku. WHAT'S NOTABLE: Cheng added that he remains "positively biased" towards Baidu (BIDU) and Alibaba (BABA). Baidu is slated to report its second quarter results tonight. He kept Overweight ratings on both stocks. PRICE ACTION: In late morning trading, 58.com slid 4.6% to $62, Qunar retreated 5.7% to $40.65 and Youku fell 4.7% to $19.20 amid broad weakness in Chinese stocks trading in New York after China's home Shanghai composite index fell 8.5% overnight.

Symphony Communication eyes $1B funding round, WSJ reportsSymphony Communication Services, an instant-messaging software company backed by Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs (GS), is eyeing an investment round that may value it at as much as $1B, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing people familiar with the matter. The startup is canvassing a range of possible new investors, including venture-capital funds and additional financial firms, the report says. Symphony also wants funds from its existing backers, including Goldman, Morgan Stanley (MS), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), and BlackRock (BLK), the report says. Reference Link

Cubic shares may jump 25%, Barron's saysYear-to-date declines in Cubic shares have created a "potential opportunity" for traders and the stock could advance 25%, Barron's contends in a feature article, citing rising urbanization and the need for cities and governments to upgrade the public transportation ticketing products made by the company. The publication also notes that Cubic "could pique the interest of an activist investor." Reference Link

Goldman Sachs July weekly calls activeGoldman Sachs July 215 and 217.5 weekly calls are active on total call volume of 10K contracts (1K puts). July weekly call option implied volatility is at 18, August and October is at 16; compared to its 52-week range of 15 to 28. Active call volume suggests traders taking positions for near term price movement.

Carrizo Oil & Gas upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit SuisseCredit Suisse assumed coverage on Carrizo Oil with an Outperform rating from a Neutral rating and raised its price target to $54 from $51.

Duke Energy Renewables acquires 20MW Shawboro solar project in North CarolinaDuke Energy Renewables announced it has acquired a 20-megawatt AC solar power project in Shawboro, N.C., from Ecoplexus, lead developer of the project. The energy generated from the facility is enough to power about 4,000 homes and will be sold to Dominion NC Power through a 15-year agreement. Swinerton Renewable Energy will build the facility and is expected to employ more than 90 percent local workers during construction. The project is targeted for completion by year end.

Varian Medical signs agreement to operate first proton facility in New YorkVarian Medical Systems (VAR) announced that it has entered into an agreement with New York Proton Management, a consortium of leading New York healthcare institutions including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Mount Sinai Health System, Montefiore Health System, and ProHEALTH Medical Management formed to operate The New York Proton Center, the first proton facility in New York State. Varian will provide the center, which will have four treatment rooms and a research room, with its ProBeam system, as well as 10 years of service for approximately $115M. The center, which will be located in Manhattan, is expected to open for treatment in the first half of 2018. Varian expects to book the equipment portion of the order in Q4 with the remainder of the order to be booked in accordance with the company's policies over the term of the agreement. Under an agreement with MM Proton I, LLC, the project developer, Varian's international subsidiary in Switzerland will provide $91.5M in project financing, including a six-and-half-year $73M senior first lien loan at 9% interest and a six-and-half-year $18.5M subordinate loan at up to 13.5% interest. Other lenders for the $242.7M in total project loans include JPMorgan Chase Bank (JPM) and an affiliate of The Goldman Sachs Group (GS). The project facility is managed by Murphy & McManus, a Boston-based developer of healthcare and life science facilities and Norton Travis of NLT Advisors served as project coordinator on behalf of the consortium.